Bye-Bye, Ballmer, Bye-Bye

Soon. Or at least soonish:

Microsoft on Tuesday said its executive search committee expects to pick CEO Steve Ballmer’s successor by early next year, a decision that could determine two strikingly different paths for the software giant’s future.

Microsoft’s search committee said it has identified more than 100 possible candidates to fill the role. Board member John Thompson says the committee, which includes Chairman Bill Gates, has talked with “several dozen” and focused its energy on a group of “about 20 individuals” as candidates.

Is having Bill Gates in on a process really a good idea?